Amazing and Interesting Facts about Cricket World Cups

Updated on March 23, 2012

Now-a-days we are enjoying the ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2011,
which is at its full swing. The matches really have been an excellent treat to
the viewers of the ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP. Being flattened by this show-stopper ‘Cricket
World Cup’, I think its time to recall some of the great memories from some
previous Cricket World Cups as well.

Not only had this World cup brought us some great cricket
moments. Those previous ICC Cricket World Cups also have some amazing facts in
them, which are really interesting to read. I have compiled some of the most
amazing 'Facts about Cricket World Cups'.

FACTS ABOUT THE CRICKET WORLD CUPS:

Let’s
read and know some of the most amazing moments or facts of the ICC Cricket
World Cups.

1.
The very first World Cup in the history of
cricket was held in 1975 in England.

2.
The first three World Cups were hosted by
England.

3.
The 4th ICC Cricket World Cup that
was held in 1987 was co-hosted by India and Pakistan.

4.
The 5th ICC Cricket World Cup (1992) was
the first one to be held in the Southern Hemisphere, co-hosted by Austrlia in
New Zealand.

5.
The 1992 Cricket World Cup proved to be a
platform for many of the changes in ODI cricket, many of those changings are
still applicable in the modern day cricket.

6. Some of the important changes there were
introduced in the 1992 Cricket World Cup were ‘White Cricket Ball’ and ‘Colored
Clothings’. Prior to this World Cup, all matches were played with traditional
white clothes and red balls.

7. Pakistan Cricket Team won the 1992 World Cup
(The only ODI Cricket World Cup won by Pakistani Cricket Team) after a dismal
start in the event, they looked unstoppable. They beat England in the final by
22 runs.

8.
The 1992 Cricket World Cup was also the first tournament
to feature and African Test Nation i.e. South Africa.

9. The 1996 Cricket World Cup was co-hosted by
Srilanka, India and Pakistan. Moreover, SriLanka became the first HOST to win
the World Cup.

10. The win of Srilanka was a really memorable one,
because Australia and West Indies both refused to play the matches against
Srilanka IN Srilanka due to security concerns. These matches were awarded to
Srilanka by default. Later, Srilanka was again rewarded with the Semi-Final victory
against India because of crowd rights. This led Srilanka to finals against
Australia, where Australia tasted defeat, and Srilanka won their first ever Cricket
World Cup :D

11. Australia is the only team to win 4 ICC Cricket
World Cups (the most by any other team)

12. Australia has not lost any match after the
defeat in the 1999 world cup match against Pakistan.

13. Australia took the revenge of the match by
defeating Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup Final.

14. Australia is the only team to remain unbeaten in
any ODI WORLD CUP (2003). This feat was repeated again the ICC CRICKET WORLD
CUP 2007, where Australia remained unbeaten.

15. Australia won the 2003 World Cup by defeating
India in the final match by 125 runs. In which, Australia bundled a massive
total of 359 runs, while the Australian skipper Ricky Ponting topped the board
with 140 runs not out. India was folded to 234 runs. G.McGrath took 3 wickets.

16. The 2007 World Cup was held in the West Indies
from 13 March to April 18, 2007.

17.
One of the biggest upset in the 2007 World Cup was
Ireland beating Pakistan in a group match, knocking Pakistan out of the
tournament.

18. The shock was too much for the Pakistani Coach –
Bob Woolmer. His dead body found the next day in his hotel room.

19. Australia met Srilanka AGAIN (after 1996) in a
final of an ICC Cricket World Cup match.

20. This was Srilanka’s 2nd appearance in
a World Cup final’s match, while it was Australia’s 6th appearance
in a World Cup final match, and 4th in a row.

21.
After the rain interrupted the final match of
the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, the game was reduced to 38 overs per side.

22. A.Gilchrist played the innings of a lifetime,
smashed 149 runs. This was the highest score by any batsman in a World Cup
final match.

23. Australia won the final match of the ICC Cricket
World Cup 2007, and won the tournament undefeated and untouched, completing the
winning streak of 29 world cup matches without tasting any defeat.

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200704/r140431_483028.jpg

24.
G.McGrath of Australia was announced ‘Man of the
Series’ of the 2007 Cricket World Cup and he later retired from the International Cricket.

25. The ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2011 was supposed to
be co-hosted by Pakistan, Srilanka, Bangladesh and India, but due to some sad
moments and concerns, Pakistan’s right to host the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
was revoked.

Umar Akmal was declared the 'Man of the Match' award for his unbeaten 44 in a stiff chase.

26. Pakistan - The unpredictables shown that when they are on song, they can beat any side in the field. Australia was last defeated in 1999 World Cup by Pakistan, and after 12 years remaining unbeaten, having a winning streak of 34 matches, in 2011 World Cup Group A's last match, Pakistan again beat Australia to end the 34 matches winning streak.

27. Australia struck only 10 fours in its inning, while Pakistan struck 21 fours in their chase.

28. Brett Lee was on fire in that match, hunting 4 scalps at the burden of 28 runs. This was his best ODI figures against Pakistan.

M. Hafeez was the 'Man of the Match' for his 2 wickets maiden, and an unbeaten half century.

29. Pakistan beat West Indies by 10 wickets with a clinical performance in batting, bowling and fielding, and qualified all the way to the Semi-Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

30. Pakistani's varied spin bowling proved too much for the West Indians. West Indies were all bowled out for 112 runs.

31. West Indies' 112 runs were their third lowest total in World Cups. Their lowest score is 93 vs Kenya in Pune (1996).

32. Pakistan successfully chased the target of 113 runs without even losing a wicket, making this as their 3rd victory without losing any wicket.

Courtesy : http://www.espncricinfo.com/ | Source

33. After tasting defeat by the hands of Pakistan, Australia lost their next match (Quarter Final) against India in a nail-biting match.

34. Australia got knocked out before Finals after 4 consecutive World Cups.

35. As Australia got knocked out before the Semi-Finals, Pakistan equalized the record of being qualified in 6 World Cup Semi-finals, along with Australia.

36. In ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Shahid Afridi, the Pakistani Captain, created a record of having 4 or more wickets, in more than 4 World Cup matches.

37 Yuvraj Singh, the Indian All-rounder, shined in the World Cup 2011, and was named 'Man Of the Match' for 4 consecutive matches, for his phenomenal performances.

Comments 22 comments

In the 1992 World Cup, two new balls were used at the start of every innings, one from each end. (that's why imran khan opted to bat up the order in the final, to save the hitters for the end)

Hunbbel Meer 5 years ago from Karachi, Pakistan. Author

@ Naima ... Thanks dear :)

Hunbbel Meer 5 years ago from Karachi, Pakistan. Author

@ Shayan ... Thanks for sharing your valuable knowledge about that :)

katrinasui 5 years ago

Great hub. Very well written.

Hunbbel Meer 5 years ago from Karachi, Pakistan. Author

@ Katrina sui ... Thanks. M glad you liked it :)

prettydarkhorse 5 years ago from US

I love NFL, American football and I think I will also like cricket. Nice information.

Hunbbel Meer 5 years ago from Karachi, Pakistan. Author

It may be proved too much complicated (because of its rules) for a new fan, but those who are brought up around cricket (specifically in the region of Asia), they are so much passionate about cricket that can't be described in simple words. These are the moments, experienced when their favorite team loses :P

Aakash 5 years ago

I think pakistan is the best team all over the world. I think pakistani team is the only team which can win the totally world meddal

Owais khan afridi 4 years ago

I thnk a 1992 wrld cup so nice. All the credit gone to great imran khan with his best performance and good unity.

Debashish 4 years ago

Why cricket have no runer for abtsman ?

Hunbbel Meer 4 years ago from Karachi, Pakistan. Author

According to the new ODI rules and changing, a batsman is not allowed to have a runner now.

di 4 years ago

nice!!

jewel 4 years ago

bcoz of t20 format cricket is losing its charm, is it ri8?

Hunbbel Meer 4 years ago from Karachi, Pakistan. Author

I would say that because of the T20 format, cricket is losing its 'talent'.

T20, in the eyes of the audience, has more charm than its other counterparts - the statistics show that.

Besides the fact, cricket needs some serious revenues and income, which T20 is providing.

bhai 4 years ago

nice information

L K M 4 years ago

according to me2011 wc was most enjoyable.in this wc ireland beated england this shocking match.australia missed the world cup.sachin made his 99th century in this wc was meoreable

IndIan EmO 4 years ago

ko0o0L,.

We are champ 4 years ago

Paki lost semi final against india in 2011 world cup. This match was called by 'mother of battle'